ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday highlighted the enduring brotherly ties between Turkiye and Pakistan and lauded Islamabad’s prudent approach that prioritises dialogue and reconciliation in resolving disputes.
“We highly appreciate the prudent, patient policy of the Pakistani state that prioritises dialogue and reconciliation in resolving disputes,” Erdogan wrote on X, responding to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s post, in which he praised Turkiye’s role in promoting peace in South Asia.
Erdogan said that Ankara placed “great importance” on Pakistan’s peace, stability and prosperity.
The Turkish President said that the “brotherhood” between Ankara and Islamabad, “which is a rare blessing for only a few nations in the world,” was “one of the most beautiful examples of true friendship.”
Extending “heartfelt greetings” to the Pakistanis, the Turkish leader expressed Turkiye’s solidarity with Pakistan “in both good times and bad.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz had thanked President Erdogan for his strong support and unwavering solidarity with Pakistan.
“Pakistan is proud of its long-standing, time-tested, and abiding fraternal ties with Turkiye that have grown stronger with each new challenge. I am particularly grateful for His Excellency’s constructive role and concerted efforts in promoting peace in South Asia,” the prime minister wrote on X, commenting on President Erdogan’s earlier comments before the cabinet meeting he chaired on Tuesday.
At the cabinet meeting, Erdogan hailed the recently declared ceasefire between Pakistan and India, urging both sides to avoid further provocations moving forward.
“We took a very clear stance both on the heinous terrorist attack in (Indian Illegally Occupied) Jammu and Kashmir and on the missile strikes targeting Pakistan. While openly declaring our support for the brotherly people of Pakistan, we also made intense efforts to de-escalate the tension, which had risen to very dangerous levels,” he said.
He expressed hope that the calm achieved via the ceasefire will also help facilitate the resolution of all other issues between the two nations, especially the water dispute.
